VIEWPOINTS:
HEALING NEWS FROM INSULITE LABORATORIES |
December 2006 |
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IN THIS ISSUE:
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Welcome to the thirty-third edition of Viewpoints, our monthly e-newsletter.
As the holiday season gets into full swing, we at Insulite Laboratories hope you have lots of fun while sticking to your commitment to continue losing weight. Remember that being heavy is never healthy, despite what some recent surveys have suggested.
Over the last six months, certain studies have concluded that being overweight isn't so bad for us, after all. But we feel that these surveys fly in the face of countless studies of hundreds of thousands of patients over many decades. Reseachers have repeatedly found overwhelming evidence that Diabetes, heart disease, stroke, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and even cancer are linked to excess weight and obesity.
In fact, new discoveries are being made all the time about the harmful effects of fat tissue that can build up as a result of a poor diet and lack of exercise.
Visceral fat tissue, for example, accumulates deep in the abdomen and expands the waist. This biologically-active tissue can cause blood-clotting and inflammation as well as Insulin Resistance – the imbalance of blood glucose and insulin levels which can underlie excess weight and obesity.
Reverse Insulin Resistance with a healthy diet and regular activity and you're much more likely to lose weight.
We firmly believe that the healthiest way to lose weight is slowly, via a balanced, nutritious diet and a commitment to regular exercise. It takes dedication ... but the improved feeling of well-being that comes with weight loss will simply amaze you as another new year unfolds.
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"Belief in a thing makes it happen."
If you want something badly enough, you will achieve it.
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Patients suffering from schizophrenia who take the drug clozapine have a greater chance of developing the cluster of increased risks for cardiovascular disease called Metabolic Syndrome (Syndrome X).
The risk factors of Metabolic Syndrome include obesity, high blood sugar and insulin levels, elevated blood pressure and high cholesterol, which can all lead to a heart attack, stroke or Diabetes.
A new study, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, recommends that doctors check for symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome in patients taking clozapine. (1)
Dr Steven Lamberti and colleagues at the University of Rochester Medical Center studied 93 schizophrenic patients who were taking clozapine and compared them with data on 2,700 individuals who were of a similar age, weight and ethnicity but not taking clozapine.
More than half of the patients using clozapine suffered from Metabolic Syndrome, compared to only a fifth of the other group.
Dr Lamberti said the findings created a difficult choice for patients and doctors because about one in five people with schizophrenia do not respond to medications other than clozapine.
"On the one hand, we know that Metabolic Syndrome is associated with increased mortality," said Dr. Lamberti.
"We think that patients with Metabolic Syndrome have a two or three fold increased risk of cardiovascular disease. And the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in patients taking clozapine was over twice what it should be. On the other hand, patients who have schizophrenia that requires clozapine do not respond to other medications."
Dr. Lamberti stressed that, compared to healthy individuals, people suffering from schizophrenia are known to exercise less and have poorer diets – contributing factors to Metabolic Syndrome. People with schizophrenia who are not taking any medication have also been shown to be at higher risk of Diabetes.
"We do not know why," added Dr. Lamberti. "There are a number of theories. It might be that whatever is affecting the brain in schizophrenia is also affecting the metabolic system."
Sadly, people with severe mental illness die, on average, 10 years younger than others in the same age agroup because of physical health problems. They are also five times more likely to develop Diabetes than the general population.
(1) Prevalence of Meatbolic Syndrome Among Patients Receiving Clozapine,
AmJ Psychiatry July 2006; 163: 1273-1276
Click here to read about a scientific breakthrough that can reverse Metabolic Syndrome by addressing Insulin Resistance, a key underlying cause of excess weight and obesity.
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Click here to Join our PCOS Community
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Take advantage of our ongoing outreach
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Kidney damage caused by Diabetes in mice has been halted by scientists who repaired their insulin-producing pancreatic cells.
The scientific team from Tulane University in New Orleans used stem cells from human bone marrow. Now they hope the process can be adapted to treat Diabetes-related kidney disease in humans.
There is controversy in the U.S. over embryonic stem cell research. President Bush is opposed to Federal funding for the research on moral grounds while actor Michael J. Fox, who suffers from Parkinson’s Disease, waged a high-profile campaign against this stance during the recent mid-term Congressional elections.
Stem cells are immature cells which have the capacity to turn into any kind of tissue in the body.
The New Orleans team treated Diabetic mice who had high blood sugar levels and damaged kidneys. One group of mice was injected with stem cells. After three weeks, they were shown to be producing higher levels of mouse insulin than untreated mice and had lower blood sugar levels.
The injections also appeared to halt damaging changes taking place in the glomeruli, the bulb-like structures in the kidneys that filter the blood.
Researcher Dr Darwin Prockop said: "We are not certain whether the kidneys improved because the blood sugar was lower or because the human cells were helping to repair the kidneys.
"But we suspect the human cells were repairing the kidneys in much the same way they were repairing the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas."
Dr Prockop and his team are planning to carry out trials in Diabetes patients whose kidneys are beginning to fail.
"They will determine whether giving the patients large numbers of their own adult stem cells will lower blood sugar, increase secretion of insulin from the pancreas and improve the function of the kidney," said Dr. Prockop.
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Myth: Obesity Has The Same Effect On Men And Women.
Fact:
No, it doesn’t. A recent study by the University of Pittsburgh showed that the health risks for extremely obese women are often underestimated.
Researchers looked at rates of heart disease and death among more than 90,000 women and discovered a very high risk of death for the heaviest women – higher, in fact, than in men weighing the same amount.
The main risk factors resulting from obesity were Diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, all of which are developed at a higher rate by obese women than men of a smiliar weight.
Fat distribution is also different in the sexes. Women store more around the hips and buttocks, while men’s fat tends to collect in the stomach area.
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Q. Can Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Cause Depression?
A.
Many women with PCOS often experience depression, anxiety and other mood-related disorders. A question that often arises is whether depression and anxiety are a result of having the symptoms of PCOS or whether they are caused by the hormone imbalance related to PCOS.
A study conducted at the University of Chicago Hospital Department of Medicine linked slightly elevated free testosterone (FT) levels with increased rates of mood-related disorders. The study looked at 27 women with PCOS and elevated FT levels and 27 women without PCOS and normal ranges of FT levels.
The results of the study show that women with slightly elevated levels of FT were more likely to be depressed than women with normal or very elevated levels of FT. This is a rather interesting finding because it showed how FT can have a negative effect on mood at slightly elevated levels but not have much of an effect at extremely elevated levels. One thought was that women with extremely elevated levels of FT become accustomed to the high levels and their bodies adjust accordingly. (1)
The study advises physicians to be aware that depression may be a symptom of the hormone imbalance found in women with PCOS. Treatments aimed at treating the cause of PCOS and balancing hormone levels may help many women relieve their depression and anxiety along with other symptoms of PCOS, which can range from infertility and excess facial hair to skin conditions like acne and brown patches and male pattern baldness.
(1) Weiner CL, Primeau M, Ehrmann DA. Androgens and mood dysfunction in women: comparison of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome to healthy controls.
Psychosom Med. 2004 May-Jun;66(3):356-62.
PMID: 15184695
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"Dear Insulite Labs,
"Thank you soooo much for the much needed help and guidance that was
provided. I wrote to one of your doctors, Sari, and she was very helpful
with all of my questions. I have never been so happy or felt so much hope
for the future that I do now.
"I am only 19 years old and I feel as if I
have been given wings to achieve the impossible. I have lost some weight,
my male facial hair is about nonexistant, I have more muscle instead of
pudgy fat, most of my cysts on my ovary are gone, I have a wonderful mood
(most of the time), and I feel like I enjoy eating more, even though I have
given up a lot of my carbs.
"Thank you very much, and to any one out there
who thinks they can't do it, YOU CAN, because I did!!!
Thank you."
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- Rachel Hnizdil
KS
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CLICK HERE TO
Read more about women recovering from PCOS
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Insulite Laboratories would like to share other experiences like this one to inspire our many clients on the same path. Tell us your story and we will use it in a future issue of this newsletter, as well as on web sites and affiliate sites.
If you are uncomfortable with us publishing your full name, we are quite happy to use your initials or first name to preserve your anonymity. We do ask that you include the name of your hometown and state or, in the case of our numerous clients outside the U.S.A., your country. Please email us at
testimonials@insulitelabs.com
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Around 5 to 7 lbs of weight can be shed in a year simply by ditching sweetened sodas and drinking more water.
Most diet programs advise drinking plenty of water to aid digestion and help reduce soda and sugary fruit juice intake. But until now there has been little evidence to back up the advice.
However, scientists at this year’s annual meeting of the Obesity Society reported new research based on weight-loss data on 240 overweight women, aged 25-50, who were following one of several popular, carbohydrate-restricted diets.
Before beginning their programs, the women drank an average of about two cans of sugary drinks a day, including fruit juice and sodas. Researchers discovered that women who replaced virtually all their sweetened drinks with water lost an average 5 lbs more in a year than dieters who kept drinking sugary beverages. Women who drank more than four cups of water a day lost an additional 2 lbs more than dieters who consumed less water.
All functions within the body require the presence of water. A well-hydrated body enables these functions to occur quickly and efficiently because water boosts the metabolic rate. Having the correct amount of water in your body actually makes your metabolism burn calories 3% faster.
Studies have shown that thirst and hunger sensations are triggered together. If slight dehydration exists, the thirst mechanism can be mistaken for hunger. So a person may eat when, in fact, the body is craving fluid.
Most food contains some water. But if you don’t drink enough, you may be subconsciously driven to eat more to gain the water supply your body requires, resulting in weight gain. |
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The festive season offers plenty of scope for unhealthy activities in amongst all the enjoyment. So here are some simple suggestions to help you get through unscathed:
Millions of Americans will make multiple driving trips to see loved ones and friends over the holidays and it's important to make sure sleeping arrangements are up to scratch to avoid getting over-tired behind the wheel. All too often, people end up sleeping in spare rooms on old mattresses that seem like deflated inner tubes or uncomfortable sofas that even the family pet avoids. These bad beds not only leave you feeling irritable and risk harming your back but they could also render you vulnerable to dozing-off while driving. Check into an inexpensive motel rather than run the risk, especially when driving conditions around this time of year can be tricky.
Keep the dining room lights bright to avoid unhealthy over-indulging at the table. Brightness makes you feel like you're in the spotlight and thus less likely to grab fattening extra helpings. If you doubt this assertion, consider why high-end restaurants are dimly lit – it's to make you feel relaxed enough to order expensive entrees and linger for pricey desserts. Scientific studies show that warm, subdued lighting lowers inhibitions, which, in this context, can mean forgetting your diet and gaining weight.
Don’t clear the table right away after a meal. It may not seem like perfect etiquette but the sight of the remains of a meal can act as a disincentive to eating too much. A recent study involved students who were invited to a sports bar on Super Bowl Sunday and provided with a free "eat-as-much-as-you-like" chicken wing feast. Waitresses were asked to clear away the remains at only half of the tables. Researchers noted that students at the "dirty" tables ate nearly 30% less than those at the cleared tables. The latter group had no idea they were eating more than the other students.
Pick the right drinks glasses because size and shape do matter. The brain has a natural tendancy to focus on the height of an object, rather than its width. So you’re likely to drink more from a short squat glass than from a tall, skinny one. Keeping a close check on alcohol consumption is vital if you have to drive. It’s best to stick to non-alcoholic drinks if you’re planning to use the car.
Online shopping is a great way to save time while buying gifts. But using your computer means you lose out on the mall-walking exercise that is usually part and parcel of holiday shopping. So work out exactly how much time you saved, like 15 minutes per gift, and add that amount of time to your regular exercise regime. It’s one way to avoid undoing all your good weight loss efforts over the last 12 months and starting the New Year carrying some extra pounds!
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DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this newsletter is for the sole purpose of being informative.
This information is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice
of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take
any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have
regarding a medical condition.
Nothing contained in or provided through this newsletter is intended to be or is to be used or relied
upon for medical diagnosis or treatment. Your use of our newsletter opportunity is subject to certain
terms and conditions including, but not limited to, the fact that you have not been seen, evaluated or
diagnosed by a qualified medical/health care provider through the use of our newsletter service. |
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Insulite Laboratories is committed to giving you a better understanding of excess weight and obesity and its underlying cause, Insulin Resistance, which can combine to cause PCOS.
